Nine Over Ten 9/10

Nine Over Ten 9/10 is SHIFTING!

2008-05-24T17:14:00.003+08:00

Hey everybody, Nine Over Ten 9/10 is shifting from nineoverten.blogspot.com to it's own domain and hosting plan at www.nineoverten.com. I would appreciate if you can update your blogrolls and do drop me a line if I have not included your blog at my blogroll over at the new site. Thanks!

Where to donate for the Sichuan earthquake relief efforts.

2008-05-23T07:14:00.004+08:00

I found a whole bunch of links that you can go to if you are interested in donating to help the relief efforts for the aftermath of the 12th May Sichuan earthquake which has already killed more than 51,000 people.

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders):	Red Cross:
International Donation Site	International
MSF Hong Kong	Hong Kong
MSF Australia	Australia
MSF Japan	Japan
MSF USA	USA

I taken the list of links from Play-Asia's on-going donation/awareness campaign at http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-47yl-3-sichuan-49-en.html. So have a heart, donate and keep the earthquake victims in prayer.

David Cook Wins, and Videos of His Best Performances

2008-05-23T01:03:00.005+08:00

This year's American Idol has finally come to an end. No more rushing home on Wednesday and Thursday evenings to catch the repeat telecast of shows. LOL. This time around, my favourite singer actually won the competition. Lets give it up for David Cook!

Despite being out-sang by the other David (Archuleta) during the final night, he managed to pull in a whopping 56% of the total 97.5 million votes cast. My take on young Archuleta: he has a very nice voice, but I think people would tire at hearing the boring ballads he belts out on almost every show.

David Cook on the other hand has shown major versatility and an uncanny ability of making a song his own, much like last year's runner up (and sadly, current record flop) Blake Lewis. Here are some of David Cook's best performances on American Idol:

Arguably his best performance in American Idol, Lionel Richie's Hello was taken to "rocky" heights:

"One shouldn't abuse a Mariah Carey song, especially in this manner". That was the comment I got from a friend on David Cook's version of Always Be My Baby. I thought it was pretty nice:

A Michael Jackson favourite of mine, and a version done by Chris Cornell. I was pleasantly surprised at Billie Jean sounding the way David Cook sang it. It rocked. A lot. Can he do Dirty Diana as well? Pretty please?

I bet that many people were suprised or were just simply in awe of David Cook's performance, singing Music of the Night from The Phantom of the Opera.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords - A Short Review

2008-05-22T07:03:00.001+08:00

For more video game reviews, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

If there's a game on the Nintendo DS that can (and will) make you miss your baths and is the epitome of the "just-one-more-turn" addiction normally found turned-based games on the PC, that game would be Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords.

Puzzle Quest plays a little bit like one of those Heroes of Might and Magic games on the PC. There's the game-world map whereby the hero moves around and there's also the hero's starting location, a city which can be upgraded with player-specific buildings.

The similarities with the HoMM end at combat. While there's also experience to be earned from combat, actual combat takes place as a Bejeweled game between the player and the AI. Where else can you say that you got pwned by a giant vampire bat in a game of Bejeweled?

Being an old title, Puzzle Quest would probably have dozens of reviews to its name, each would also be probably recommend that you get it. My sentiments exactly, having played the game. I got this game as a used copy a couple of weeks ago with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney for a paltry RM 90 or USD 28 for both!

If you need to get a new copy, the US version is available at Play-Asia for USD 24.90 (click here) whereas the Japanese import version, Simple DS Series Vol. 23: The Puzzle Quest: Agaria no Kishi (quite a mouthful) is also available at a cheaper price of USD 19.90 (click here).

P/S: Both titles are at bargain prices.

Bleach DS: The Blade of Fate (Eng. version) for Cheap!

2008-05-21T23:13:00.003+08:00

This is nice. Not only the Japanese version of Bleach: The Blade of Fate is selling for a discount, the English version is now being sold at a bargain price of USD 29.90 at Play-Asia. Click here for further details.

The King Lives in Elvis Presley Be@rbricks By Medicom Toys

2008-05-21T21:40:00.008+08:00

For the latest highlights on figurines and collectibles, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

The King Lives! Albeit in Be@rbrick form. Medicom Toys has released the Elvis Presley Be@rbrick figure in 100% and 400% sizes.

These official Be@rbrick figures measure 60mm and 27 centimeters(!) for the 100% and 400% sizes respectively. Here are some photos on how these collector items look like:

Play-Asia is currently selling both figurines, click here for purchase details for the Elvis Presley Be@rbrick 100% and here for the Elvis Presley Be@rbrick 400%.

Bleach DS Titles at Bargain Prices

2008-05-20T21:11:00.008+08:00

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for the Nintendo DS, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

Hmm. This is the 666th post in my blog. Pretty freaky. :) Anyways, value-priced versions (read: cheap, bargain bin) of two Bleach titles for the Nintendo DS went on sale today.

Bleach DS: Souten ni Kakeru Unmei (Best Version) (a.k.a Bleach: The Blade of Fate) and Bleach DS 2nd: Kokui Hirameku Chinkon Uta (Best Version) (a.k.a Bleach: Dark Souls) are selling for USD 29.90 each.

Pretty good value for money eh? Interested? Click here to purchase Bleach DS: Souten ni Kakeru Unmei (Best Version) (a.k.a Bleach: The Blade of Fate) and here for Bleach DS 2nd: Kokui Hirameku Chinkon Uta (Best Version) (a.k.a Bleach: Dark Souls)

Video of Myst DS' First Couple of Minutes

2008-05-19T10:02:00.006+08:00

The old pixel hunt for the PC known as Myst is now available on the Nintendo DS. How does pixel hunting on gorgeous 3D "screenshots", previously done on PC screens (it's no secret that id Software hates Myst, many moons ago) translate onto the DS? Here's a video of the first couple of minutes of Myst DS:

New Twitter Background

2008-05-18T23:22:00.005+08:00

Like my new Twitter background design? Yeah well... I like it too :)

Follow me on Twitter today (click here)!

Super Mario Stink Bombs - Yuck

2008-05-18T16:47:00.005+08:00

If you are a gashapon collector, and a Mario fan at that, there's one thing that you shouldn't buy and that's one of those Super Mario Galaxy W Mascot Super Balls. A pair of these came in the mail earlier this week, having ordered them the previous week.

The same material that makes them bounce gives off a horrible stench, one that is rubbery + plastic-ky at the same time. It's so horrible that even if one of those balls were removed from the plastic packaging they come in, the nausea/migraine inducing stench will engulf the entire room.

I've placed the two balls in a sealed container and will get rid of them on Monday when the garbage man arrives. What a waste of 5 dollars and 40 cents.

But if you want to get them as stink bombs, be my guest. They are available at USD 2.90 each at Play-Asia.com. Click here for purchase details.

DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!

I has Speed Racer's Mach 6 on mah desk!

2008-05-18T08:53:00.004+08:00

I saw these Hot Wheels Mach 6 cars being sold at the local supermarket and I can't help but get one of them. I haven't gone about watching Speed Racer at the cinema yet, but that should be solved tomorrow :).

Here are some pictures of the Mach 6:

Have you gotten your's yet?

On My Nintendo DS: Super Airwolf for the Sega Genesis

2008-05-17T22:50:00.005+08:00

Did you know that there's a replica of the helicopter from AIRWOLF on sale at eBay? Anyways, there was also an Airwolf game released on the Sega Genesis. Interestingly, it was released as Crossfire in the United States, while elsewhere it was known as Super Airwolf.

Also interesting was the gameplay. At first I thought the game was a straight-forward shmup ala 1942, where you shoot down planes, tanks and enemy emplacements with your souped-up helicopter. The subsequent land-based commando mission took me by surprise. It was a break from the norm but at the same time, devilishly hard to play.

I took a video of that sequence:

So what are the differences between Crossfire and Super Airwolf? Both are similar gameplay wise but try to spot the differences between the games with the videos I've taken below:

This write-up wouldn't have been possible without jEnesisDS, a Sega Genesis emulator for the Nintendo DS, and the R4DS, a flashcart used to run homebrew applications on the Nintendo DS.

Ode to D2

2008-05-17T21:04:00.002+08:00

Hi old friend. Yes. It's been a while. How have you been doing? Yeah, I know it's hard to be stuck in a shelf for so long, and I apologize for not taking you out for a spin every now and then. But here am I now, looking at you. I hope your current accommodation isn't too harsh on your formerly shiny under side.

You really don't age well do you. But despite all the wrinkles on your forehead, and those large looking lint on your grainy clothes, you still play like a charm. Point, click, run... just like old times. And don't forget the items! But I still don't get the socketed ones.

This time around, I'm taking things a little different. You and I, we used to play long-range, but how bout having playing with a gang of friends (or automatons) of the bony variety instead. They look cool, and surely even out the odds when we're in a pinch. Ah...let the good times roll.

Yes, I'm back in the throes of Diablo II.

Nine Over Ten 9/10 Now on Twitter

2008-05-17T07:23:00.002+08:00

This Twitter thing manages to look light weight and overwhelming at the same time. One thing is that you get to post and receive updates via IM and even via your mobile phone!

Anyways, Nine Over Ten 9/10 is now on Twitter! So get updates on what I am doing, review announcements and bargain highlights on your IM or mobile phone simply by following me on Twitter. Click here to do so now!

Retro Consoles: Nintendo Micro VS System

2008-05-16T06:59:00.005+08:00

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for the consoles, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

Now this really looks interesting. Released in 1984, Nintendo's Micro VS System is a portable console that doesn't look like a typical Game N' Watch unit. The Micro VS System came with a screen measuring slightly lesser than 16 centimeters and brought about 2 player action with the supplied pair of controllers.

You can find used Micro VS System units selling for more than USD 30 on eBay whereas new ones are going for USD 70. However, collectors are in luck since Play-Asia is selling brand-new factory sealed units of the rare Micro VS System: Donkey Kong Hockey for just USD 49.90 each

Here are some pictures:

These are the technical specifications:

Official Nintendo Portable Game
LR44 (AA) Micro Alkaline Batteries included (1.5 V)
Play modes: vs Computer or 2 Player mode
Extendable controllers (upto 48cm)
Battery life: 5 months (an hour play per day)
Time display: 12-hour system
Alarm: Set in 1-min intervals
Limited availability

And the description taken from the Play-Asia product page:

Nintendo has revolutionized the gaming industry in many ways, the systems they have developed are often truly innovative. It widens the gaming communities and bring gaming experiences to new heights.

Arcade consoles have long been linking players together for fighting and sports games, and the Micro VS System was released in 1984 and is one of the earliest consoles that makes such gameplay portable. With the console's two handhelds, two players can join a game by sharing the screen between them.

This console is one of the rare artifacts that tells the historical development of the gaming industry, a true collector's item that any serious gamer must own and Play-Asia.com is lucky to get hold of a limited quantity of brand new factory sealed consoles.

Interested? Click here for purchase details.

The Rom Report X: 80s Cartoons and Video Games

2008-05-15T23:33:00.009+08:00

For brand new The ROM Report articles, head over to www.nineoverten.com.

The idea for the 10th Edition of The ROM Report came to me when I was talking to a couple of my colleagues about 80s cartoon series. I remember being glued to the tube and being fed a diet of Thundercats, Transformers, Centurions, and Spiral Zone.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was also a favourite series of mine. I wouldn't really call them turtles, they are more like tortoises but like blondes, turtles seem to be more fun. The cartoon came out in 1987 and the NES game was release in 1989.

It's pretty fun to play, as you can see in the video I've taken earlier of the game.

On the otherhand, I didn't really watch Beetlejuice on TV. However, the video game, released for the NES is a little tough and presents a challenge. See for yourselves:

Now, if you think difficulty levels are over-rated, you have not seen Transformers: Convoy No Nazo. Yup, it's based on the Transformers cartoon series and stars Ultra Magnus.

The game is so tough that I can't even get pass the first level. Here's a video of my attempt:

All 80s inspired games featured in this article can be run on the Nintendo DS with the use of nesDS. Check out the rest of The ROM Report for more information on how to run older generation games on the Nintendo DS.

Revoltech Transformers Action Figures: Now in Bargain Bin

2008-05-15T07:03:00.005+08:00

For the latest highlights on figurines and collectibles, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

I rarely blog about figurines/action figures nowadays, but I figure that Transformer fans would be interested in this one. The Revoltech versions of Rodimus (Hot Rod) and Star Scream by Kaiyodo are going for a bargain price of USD 17.90 each at Play-Asia! The prices are cheaper than that of Amazon.com!

Being Revoltech action figures, both are highly poseable and come with additional hands and their respective weapons. Here are some pictures:

Click here for purchase details for the Rodimus action figure, and click here for Star Scream. Here's a tip: Purchase both to get another dollar off the total price.

The ROM Report IX: The Old and the New

2008-05-15T00:38:00.006+08:00

For brand new The ROM Report articles, head over to www.nineoverten.com.

NES gamers would probably remember Taito's classic The Legend of Kage which was released in 1987 for the North American NES.

The game was a 2D platformer and even though I've played it as a kid, I remembered distinctively that the hero was a ninja that could jump really high, and one of the enemy types wore a hat and shot flames, and was a tough bastard at that.

Anyways, I got the game to run on the Nintendo DS with the help of the nesDS emulator. You might want to check that out, but before that here's a video of the game running on the DS.

Since the theme of this edition of The ROM Report is "the old and the new", lets talk about the sequel to The Legend of Kage. Yup, Kage Densetsu: The Legend of Kage 2 was released in early March 2008 for the Nintendo DS.

The graphics have become much prettier, and along with it, more forgiving gameplay and a rather nice soundtrack as well. The hero, Kage, can still jump really high and comes with a new special power that allows him to duplicate himself.

I'll let the movie do the talking:

Kage Densetsu: The Legend of Kage 2, is available at Play-Asia at a cheaper price than what other imported Japanese games are sold for. Click here for purchase details.

This Week at Nine Over Ten 9/10

2008-05-12T06:56:00.005+08:00

My nearly 3-year old nephew had a shot at Speed Racer DS yesterday and while the game confirmed my initial findings that it IS a great game, it's also quite forgiving/accomodating to new players, which is a really good thing as well.

So what to expect this week at Nine Over Ten 9/10?

A review of a new Sherlock Holmes game!
A new ROM REPORT!
A review of Japanese import Kage Densetsu: The Legend of Kage 2
More highlights on bargains and discounts for video games!
And many more :)

So keep Nine Over Ten 9/10 bookmarked, or better still subscribe to my RSS feed (here) or receive Nine Over Ten 9/10 in your e-mail (here)!

Bargains: Mega Man Games Going For A Song!

2008-05-11T07:39:00.006+08:00

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for Nintendo DS games, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

Mega Man fans! Play-Asia has a lot of Mega Man titles on sale at just USD 16.90 each including the newest Mega Man ZX Advent. Not only that, RockMan titles are going for a cool USD 9.90 each. Click here for the entire list of Mega Man and RockMan titles on sale for the Nintendo DS.

Iron Man - A Movie Review

2008-05-11T06:36:00.007+08:00

The start of the Iron Man movie kinda reminds me of that Jonah guy from the Bible. In the Bible, Jonah disobeys God's command, and ends up in the belly of a fish, only to seek forgiveness. He gets spit out from the fish and continues doing the task assigned to him.

In Iron Man, Tony Stark is a modern day weapons maker, one who doesn't really have a conscience, not losing sleep over the people who have died because of his weapons. He gets attacked by terrorists using the very weapons he created, gets captured and thrown in a cave, where he finds redemption, deciding to do something with his life and becoming Iron Man in the process.

Like Jonah, he escapes the cave a changed man. But unlike Jonah, the Tony Stark in the movie doesn't lament about the mission he sets out to do, otherwise there would be a plot device where he turns to drink as an escape, just like in the comics.

That point aside, Iron Man is quite a different kettle of fish from other superhero movies. For one, the casting is perfect. Even before the movie was announced, I always thought that Robert Downey Jr. would make an excellent Tony Stark, with his past substance abuse and his looks, and this movie was an Iron Man fanboy's dream come true.

The repartee and on-screen chemistry between Tony Stark and his assistant Pepper Potts (played by Gwyneth Paltrow) would make you forget about the suit(s). Not only that, the interactions between the characters, played by an ensemble cast that include not only Downey Jr and Paltrow but also Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard is something to be marvelled (no pun intended) at.

Even Paul Bettany (of The Da Vinci Code and A Knight's Tale) is thrown in as the voice of Tony's sarcastic computer system.

The art of conversation is lost in superhero movies, but Iron Man brings that back, with some really cool action sequences and a bloody cool suit. The suit is kind of like the one in the Ultimates comic books, whereby it's like a wearable fighter jet and assembly is required. I actually prefer the Extremis enhanced version, but this movie version is so hot, even my girlfriend (who doesn't really watch superhero movies) wants one.

Iron Man fans will be in for a treat at the amount of fan service given... Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, anyone?

So, what are you waiting for? Go watch Iron Man at a cinema near you!

Speed Racer: The Video Game - A Nintendo DS Review

2008-05-10T09:15:00.006+08:00

For more video game reviews, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

I must say that with WFC Connectivity, Speed Racer: The Video Game would have been up there contending with Mario Kart DS for the best racing game title on the Nintendo DS.

Admittedly, that thought didn't cross my mind before I started reviewing the game. Likewise for many movie tie-ins and in-fact many Nintendo DS games these days, I approached this title with trepidation thinking that hey, at most its gonna be something a little less crappier than M&M's Kart Racing.

Yup, the market is full of shovelware these days that a little pessimistic thinking is acceptable. Are we looking at another video games crunch ala the 80's? That's enough material for another article.

Back to the game. Boy, was I glad to be proven wrong. The game started off with a nice FMV, with the backstory being set after the events of the movie. Without further ado, I jumped into an arcade mode race and the graphics were the first thing that caught my attention.

Someone better create a digital video output expansion set for the DS so that I can view this on my widescreen..this is really good!

It was a really trippy experience going through the first race and the excellent graphics were accompanied with excellent controls and gameplay. Some portions of the track are like half pipes, and if you were to drive off the sides, a tap of a button will bring the car right on to the track. This user friendly approach is extended to situations where you might find yourself driving backwards, and a touch of a button will right the car.

All these stunts, which also include flipping the car during jumps, drifting through corners and executing Car-Fu, which is a mini game that can be executed during overtaking, will help you fill your boost meter which can be expended to provide a timely boost of speed.

However, fill the boost meter to the brim and you'll have access to the Zone. It's abit hard to describe the "Zone", it's like a mega boost of sorts and pretty much worth the effort to fill the boost meter.

More importantly, stunts also win fans. Fans are to Speed Racer as currency is to RPGs. the more fans you win over in a race, the more cars, drivers and game modes you can unlock!

Aside from the Arcade Mode, there is also an expansive WRL league mode, which is divided by difficulty level. Each level has its own sets of cups and special events and is the place to be to gain fans to unlock the goodies mentioned in the previous paragraph.

The Options menu provides quite a bit of flexibility. You can choose between three different control schemes, adjust race variables such as number of opponents and laps, and whether to use the metric system or the imperial system for your speedometer (lol..jargon? that's just MPH or KPH).

Speed Racer is like a breath of fresh air among the other racing games I've seen lately on the Nintendo DS and I highly recommend it. Speed Racer: The Video Game is available at Play-Asia with free international shipping to most countries. Click here for purchase details.

Click here to purchase the game at Amazon.com.

Good Vibrations - Make Mine A DualShock 3

2008-05-08T21:16:00.005+08:00

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for the consoles, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

For all you PS3 owners still stuck with a SuckAxis, I mean Sixaxis controller, it might be beneficial for you to know that the Dual Shock 3 is selling at a discount at Play-Asia.com, and it comes with free international shipping to some countries.

Yup, ditch that motion controlling/rumble-less thingamajig for some rumble goodness. You know you want one. Click here for purchase details.

I'm at Borderz, Stocking Up Mah Book Shelf

2008-05-08T20:14:00.003+08:00

I'm having a drink at Starbucks after buying a whole bunch of books at Borders and spending just shy of getting all five stamps on my Borders Rewards card in a single receipt! I got 4 stamps actually. Once fully stamped I can redeem it for a RM 30 electronic gift card.

Anyways, what did I buy? Here's the list:

The World is Flat ~ Thomas L. Friedman
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man ~ John Perkins
The Undercover Economist ~ Tim Harford
Emma ~ Jane Austen
Smoke and Mirrors ~ Neil Gaiman
Retro Gamer
Onslaught Reborn (Hardcover)

I've been reading a lot of fiction, so I thought some non-fiction books would be nice for my literary diet. My previous purchases last month were Freakanomics and Blink, both really interesting.

What books have you gotten this month?

Super Mario Galaxy Collectibles: Super Ball Gashapon!

2008-05-08T11:27:00.005+08:00

Now these Super Mario Galaxy collectibles look really interesting. The Super Mario Galaxy Mascot Super Ball Gashapon collection consists of 8 different kinds of gashapon, based on the power-ups found in the game, all of which are encased within clear plastic/rubber balls.

And they are pretty big too, with a 4 centimeter diameter. I just hope they are contained within rubber balls, which would be fun to bounce around!

The Super Mario Galaxy Mascot Super Ball Gashapon is available at Play-Asia at USD 2.90 each with free shipping to most countries. Click here for purchase details.

Previous Gen Console Bargains

2008-05-08T06:48:00.002+08:00

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for consoles, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

This is some sort of a Bargain Week, where I'll be highlighting cool video game bargains. So, lets have a look at some previous gen consoles going for a song:

First up, is the Nintendo Gamecube console going for nearly half price at Play-Asia. The Spice Orange, Jet Black, Silver/Platinum and Purple/Indigo versions of this lunch box like console are priced at USD 79.90 each!

Play-Asia has also an interesting selection of Xbox consoles, namely the Xbox Ice Blue Console Halo 2 Limited Edition set, the Xbox Console (Asian edition), and the Xbox Console Bundle including Jade Empire and Project Gotham Racing, all of which are going for USD 99.90 each!

Check them out as well as other video game bargains at Play-Asia.com

Night Owls

2008-05-07T22:54:00.003+08:00

Some of you who read the newspaper article that had me on the cover of InTech would know that I work at UF. Late night software deployment and maintenance are part and parcel of my job since the project that I'm working on belongs to a local client.

Thanks to the Internet, deployment and maintenance work can take place from home and it does make the job a little bit easier. However, there are instances where work can drag on till 6 in the morning. So how do I keep awake while waiting for others to complete their tasks?

Caffeine is an option, but I tend not to drink coffee late at night. Video games are more viable as they keep me engaged, but there are some caveats. Games such as Digidrive cannot be played on easy mode since the slow gameplay (at that level) and the hypnotic movement of the pieces would put you to sleep.

Burnout or Mercenaries for the PS2 are better suited for keeping me awake since they are both noisy, fast, and action packed.

Reading is okay but the material should be engaging like the book I'm reading now, Freakanomics.

So, what do you do to keep awake at night?

GBA Games For Less Than 10 Bucks

2008-05-06T06:45:00.005+08:00

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for the video games, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

Here are a bunch of GBA games that are worth more than their selling price (which is less than 10 bucks a pop):

RockMan Zero 2 ~ USD 9.90 (Click here for details)
RockMan EXE 3 Black ~ USD 9.90 (Click here for details)
Family Tennis Advance ~ USD 9.90 (Click here for details)
Golden Sun ~ USD 9.90 (Click here for details)
bit Generations: Boundish ~ USD 9.90 (Click here for details)
Wario Land Advance ~ USD 7.90 (Click here for details)
Napoleon ~ USD 6.90 (Click here for details)

Iron Man for Nintendo DS - A Game Review

2008-05-05T05:30:00.009+08:00

For more video game reviews, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

Iron Man for the Nintendo DS has been great experience so far, and while I'm playing to unlock the "One Man Army" mode, which I think will get you to blow up more stuff compared to the story mode, the story mode seems to be intriguing on its own. For one, there is that research points thing and secondly, each level is expansive, with multiple objectives and a boss fight of sorts at the end.

Lets talk about the levels first. The levels are so big I have trouble finishing them in a single casual sitting of 5 minutes. Going along with the expansive levels are the rather nice graphics as well. The textures may look a little basic, but hey, it's on DS, not the PSP.

Gameplay is a mixed bag here, but its not necessarily a bad thing. The first level will have you playing a little like Tomb Raider as you fight your way out with the first version of the Iron Man suit. The second level however, transforms into a shmup, as you get to fly around in the latest Iron Man suit, shooting repulsor beams and firing the occasional rocket or unibeam and even release an EM pulse.

You'll require the use of both buttons and the touch screen in order to play. Use the touch screen to aim and fire repulsor beams/flamethrower, or to shoot a unibeam. The touch screen also serves as a guide with arrows pointing to the next objective.

I don't think it would be hard to add a mini-map, like the one found in football games, with dots representing enemies, buildings, powerups and the ilk, on the touch screen, but no such think here. Come on, the levels are big and it's an Iron Man game... high tech and all that jazz.. a mini map would definitely help.

Remember that I mentioned Research Points? Iron Man for the Nintendo DS displays a little more depth compared to other super hero games on the same platform by allowing you to go all RPG on it.

You can spend Research Points to upgrade your Iron Man suit (better shields, repulsor beams, upgraded rockets, etc etc), which you get to pilot from level 2 onwards, but you'll have to destroy ALOT of enemies (and buildings) to obtain them points. Whatever happened to good old (but boring) R&D.

A Story Mode is nothing without a story and Iron Man tells its "cutscenes" in the form of stills with shots from the movie as well as stylize comic book art. Apparent Robert Downey Jr. reprises his character from the movie by lending his voice for the game. And speaking of sound, it's largely forgettable, so don't aim for a sonic experience.

Iron Man has a pretty solid outing on the Nintendo DS, with interesting gameplay and RPG elements and is available at Play-Asia (click here for purchase details).

Speed Racer Merchandize from KFC

2008-05-04T09:13:00.004+08:00

Here he comes, here comes Speed Racer, he is a demon on wheels, and he's also more of a merchandising dude compared to Iron Man. I went to the local KFC only to find 4 Speed Racer toys to go with the kids meal, Speed Racer keychains to go with two of those combo meals and 1 limited edition notebook which can comes with a bucket meal, or can be purchased separately.

I came home with a Racer X keychain, and the limited edition notebook. Pics:

Want some of these merchandize? Get to your nearest KFC outlet. The Limited Edition notebook comes with a metal front page and costs RM 7.50 as an individual purchase, or comes free with the mini bucket meal.

I'm on the cover of InTech and now in TechCentral!

2008-05-03T20:38:00.005+08:00

I'm still trying to get a scan of the cover page of last Thursday's InTech pullout from The Star newspaper. In the mean time, you guys will have to settle for a mini picture of me, featured at the highlight portion of TechCentral on The Star Online (click for a bigger pic)!

Here's the direct link to the article.

I'm on the cover of today's The Star InTech

2008-05-01T09:21:00.004+08:00

I thought the previous post was the last before I leave on a break but I'm on the cover of today's issue of The Star's InTech pull-out. Yup, go grab a copy.

Now is really a good time to go for a holiday.

Cya. Be back on Saturday, or Sunday..

Labour Day, It's a Holiday!

2008-05-01T08:42:00.002+08:00

Okie dokie. It's the Labour Day weekend! I'm taking Friday off work and will only be back from my break on Saturday. So no updates, but do check out the Bargains section of Play-Asia, who knows what you might get.

Happy holidays! More game and collectible reviews when I'm back!

Devil May Cry Collectibles: Darts & Flights

2008-04-30T22:05:00.006+08:00

Now, these are some things a pub-going video game fanboy wouldn't mind being caught with. These Devil May Cry Darts from Capcom come in a set of three with 3 pieces of interchangeable flights. Click here for the Dante set or here for the Nero set.

Additional flights can also be purchased separately in sets of 3 as well, each set depicting a character from the DMC games. Click here for purchase details for these flights.

Namco DotGraph Figure with Sound: Video Review

2008-04-30T07:44:00.002+08:00

Here's a video review of the Namco DotGraph Figure with Sound that arrived in my mailbox yesterday:

Interested in getting one for yourself? Visit Play-Asia.com at this link for purchase details.

A Package Full Of Video Game Collectibles and Accessories

2008-04-30T01:01:00.004+08:00

A "care package" arrived from Hong Kong today, bringing with it a whole bunch of video game collectibles and an accessory.

Here's a mug shot of the contents of this delivery:

Interested in knowing what I bought? Here's the list:

New Super Mario Bros. Soft Magnet Collection (click here for purchase details)
Namco Dotgraphics Figure with Sound (click here for purchase details)
Hori Display Stand Portable for both the Sony PSP-1000 and PSP-2000 (click here for purchase details)

Google Adsense Cash Out!

2008-04-29T01:16:00.004+08:00

I went to cash-out my Google Adsense earnings earlier today, at a nearby CIMB Bank with Western Union service. The amount was just shy of USD 120, but at least I got some pocket money to pay for my new pair of tyres on the car, and a short holiday with the girlfriend.

Hooray for Google!

Club Nintendo Super Famicom Classic Controller for Nintendo Wii

2008-04-28T00:55:00.006+08:00

Here's your chance to own a limited edition Club Nintendo Super Famicom Classic Controller for the Nintendo Wii. That's right, this retro-throwback of a gamepad hooks up to your Nintendo Wii and is ideal for playing Virtual Console games.

No details on pricing yet, but Play-Asia will be opening pre-orders for this gamepad soon, so you'd better bookmark the following link: http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-47yl-71-10u-49-en-84-j-70-2f4f.html

Bak Kut Teh Run/New Balance Klang Pacers Half Marathon - Post Race

2008-04-27T13:43:00.006+08:00

The Bak Kut Teh Run, as some runners would fondly call the New Balance-Klang Pacers Half Marathon, is probably one of the cleanest runs that I've ever participated.

Let me explain. It would seem that almost every participant knows where the garbage bags are, and actually use them to dispose off rubbish (empty paper cups, banana peels, plastic bags, etc) properly! Hence, there's no scenario like in KLIM where rubbish was strewn all over the Dataran field.

It's just too bad that the number of participants for the Bak Kut Teh Run were so few. At one point there wasn't anyone within a 20 meter radius of myself and I got bored running and started walking instead, enjoying the sights along the way.

I saw monkeys (of the kera variety) scurrying on power lines, a couple of dogs starring intently like I'm a postman, the mini wet market with a cat waiting for scraps, and of course, the mosque (yang tersergam indah) and the Istana with a different view of the stadium.

The end result: 1 hour 19 minutes. My friend was saying that any longer and that I would be out of the qualifying time. But no worries, I just decided not to put the pedal to the metal. Normally I would finish a 10km run in an hour :).

I didn't even need to queue to get a drink of Milo or 100 Plus, testament to the low participant count. Anyways, do join the run next year as the finisher medal given out is pretty nice; looks like some Superman thingy.

Grand Theft Auto Central

2008-04-27T09:58:00.001+08:00

This week marks the release of GTA IV, and over here at Nine Over Ten 9/10, this post is dedicated to all things GTA, from where to get the game, guidebooks, and even a trip down memory lane to great granddaddy GTA and grandma GTA 2.

So, all geared up for GTA IV? If you haven't got a current-gen console, you'd probably need one in the form of an Xbox 360 or a Playstation 3. Yup, it's a release across the board but if you own a Wii, go play Okami instead.

Where to get your copy of GTA IV? Folks living in the States, Canada and even the U.K are fortunate to have good video game distribution networks (retailers, stores) and they are also spoilt for choice in terms of online options.

One way of purchasing GTA IV is via Amazon.com; the game is available for pre-order for both the Xbox 360 (click here) and Playstation 3 (click here) versions and are eligible for Super Saver Shipping.

For us over here at Malaysia, it would seem that we have to rely on parallel importers to get our GTA fix, or purchase from online sites such as Play-Asia. Like Amazon, Play-Asia has both versions of the game available for pre-order. Click here for the Xbox 360 version and click here for the PS3 version.

GTA 4 Guide Books are available at Amazon.com (click here) and Play-Asia (click here) as well.

While you won't see Rockstar Games release GTA: Vice City as freeware, you can take a free walk down memory lane on the original Grand Theft Auto and GTA 2, courtesy of the said developer. Where to get them? Head over to this link.

Now, if I just can get a PS3...

Weirdest/Coolest FMV on the Nintendo DS

2008-04-26T16:20:00.006+08:00

The use of full motion video is getting pretty common place among Nintendo DS games, with the usual suspects such as the Final Fantasy series of games leading the way. Even the boxing game, K-1 World GP (Japanese import) utilizes FMV for its intro.

Most of the time, these FMVs are CG spectacles, designed to awe more than anything else. But have you seen anything that actually have you chuckling?

Here's one:

That's the FMV intro for Hissatsu Kung Fu: Kanji Dragon and it references old Chinese Kung Fu movies and even the Karate Kid, but look out for the Nintendo DS Lite in some scenes. The game requires knowledge of Japanese kanji characters (you write them on the touch screen) and when done succesfully, translates to kungfu moves to defeat your on screen enemy. Think Street Fighter where you have to write your combo moves instead of mashing buttons.

As you might expect, I couldn't go far with the game since I'm handicapped by my lack of kanji knowledge but for those of you out there with written Japanese knowledge, this is an interesting game to check out.

Hissatsu Kung Fu: Kanji Dragon is available at Play-Asia, click here for purchase details.

Retro Video Game Ads

2008-04-26T01:56:00.004+08:00

1989. A year, where game ads in publications such as EGM, as well as game packaging, do not match that of the contents of the game itself. The cover might show a buffed-up Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, but in game graphics potray him as a few pixels short of being Mario.

And you'll find that in order to maximise money spent on ads, game publishers will advertise their entire catalogue of games in a single ad, hardly something you see these days.

Here are some of my favourite ads, from the very first issue of EGM..and yeah, 1989 is the only other time besides the Cold War where you can hear the phrase Soviet Mind Game. LOL.

If you have not download the very first issue of EGM, it's available in PDF form at Retromags. Click here for details.

New Sony PSP Slim & Lite Colour and Official PSP Cradle with Remote, Out Now!

2008-04-25T06:23:00.009+08:00

Head's up, there's a new Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) Slim & Lite colour in town, Mat Bronze (PSPJ-2002). The Value Pack is now available at Play-Asia and it comes with the Battery Pack, AC Adapter, Strap, Cleaning Cloth, Pouch, 32MB Memory Stick Duo and D-Terminal AV Cable. Interested? Click here for details.

Also just recently released is the new official Sony PSP Cradle with comes with a (cue collective gasp), slim card type REMOTE CONTROL! According to the official website, the Remote Control allows the user to view movies, pictures and some other stuff on the PSP when it (the PSP) is attached to the cradle.

The Sony PSP Cradle comes in two variants, the first one without a bundled D-Terminal Cable and another version that comes with it. The Sony PSP Cradle is selling for USD 49.90, without the D-Terminal cable (click here for details) and for USD 69.90 with D-Terminal cable (click here for details).

GameCube Controller, Now In White!

2008-04-24T22:49:00.006+08:00

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for consoles, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

Out of the 4 previous gen consoles, I own two of 'em, a Sony Playstation 2 and a Sega Dreamcast. While I feel that the PS2 Dual Shock 2 controller is superior to that of the Dreamcast, there's one controller that never fails to keep me in awe and wonder on how it would be to use it.

This particular controller belongs to the Nintendo GameCube. While the Dual Shock 2 is rather utilitarian with its industrial and symmetrical design, the GameCube controller looks like a piece of art. Previously available in purple, silver, spice orange, and platinum, the GameCube controller is now available in White, to match the sleek and also white look of the Nintendo Wii.

Get the new White GameCube Controller for USD 24.90 (+ USD 10.40 shipping) at Play-Asia, which coincidentally is still cheaper compared to the same controller in other colours! Click here for further details.

bit Generations Coloris for the GBA - A Game Review

2008-04-23T21:58:00.006+08:00

For more video game reviews, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

If you have a game title that rhymes with chorela, you would be chuckling like me every time you see the box art for the game Coloris. Even the colour scheme reminds you of something related to the disease (diarrhea, anyone?). But one shouldn't judge a game by the title or box art or a combination of both.

Part of the 3 bit Generations games that I purchased earlier this month, Coloris presents a rather unique experience not unlike the other titles in the bit Generations series. First timers would do well to pay attention to the colour spectrum thingy in the first level.

The level is represented with rows upon rows of multicoloured tiles. The game plays a little bit like Tetris, whereby players will have to get a line of 3 tiles (horizontally, or vertically, or both even) or more in the same colour in order to make them disappear. How to change the colour of a tile depends on the tiles surrounding that particular tile. Remember the colour spectrum?

You can change the colour of the tile, in sequence to the colour of the surrounding tiles! Pretty interesting eh?

Here's a couple of gameplay videos that I shot earlier this evening so have a look:

Coloris is available at...scratch that, it's no longer in stock at Play-Asia, but you can keep tabs on it just in case the game comes back in stock. Click here for further details.

Of eBay Scammers and Nintendo DS Games

2008-04-23T06:58:00.004+08:00

You know what, if you are an avid Nintendo DS gamer and if someone puts up two Nintendo DS games, Wario: Master of Disguise, and True Swing Golf, both of which you don't have, on eBay with a starting price of USD 0.99, you wouldn't want to pass that up.

So, someone actually did just that and after several days, I won both items, needing just to pay USD 12.97 for both games and the matter of combined shipping to be sorted out with the seller. My suspicions arose when the seller didn't reply my e-mails on that matter and it was a good thing that I didn't pay any money, since I'm the type to pay first if I'm purchasing single items.

Soon enough, the seller starts gaining alot of negative feedback from buyers of his other items, ranging from not sending out his items after receiving payment and remaining silent after receiving payment. This on a guy who had 2 positive ratings earlier on.

I could have been sitting in the same shoes as those other buyers if I paid first without asking. And there is also the matter of a zero rating account bidding exclusively on this seller's items. Price jacking? Maybe.

Anyways, I'm still waiting for the seller to reply my question. Perhaps I should take it up on eBay regarding this issue. And for the rest of you out there, caveat emptor! Buyer beware :)

What Am I Doing Up at 4 A.M.

2008-04-22T03:41:00.003+08:00

I'm pulling off a late nighter for the company. It's nearly 4 a.m. and it has turned into a waiting game, where you have to wait for a bunch of folks to get something done before checking on your stuff to make sure everything still works.

While waiting, there's Digidrive (and a new obscene highscore, jgoreham, 5348 to be exact, hehe) and Anthony Bourdain eating a seal and other weird Canadian stuff on TV.

I'm really impressed with the battery life of the GameBoy Micro. Digidrive players will know how time consuming and addictive the game can be, and frankly speaking, the last time I charged this thing was like..3 weeks ago, and it's been Digidrive, Digidrive, Digidrive ever since. The Duracell bunny comes to mind.

While waiting, I also had a game of Literati on Yahoo Games. Pimp_3007 decided to close his browser after I played a 92 point bingo. In his own words, "not kool" indeed.

I'm still waiting, but then there's The Shield on TV. Hooray for Michael Chiklis and gang.

Hori Portable Display Stand for the Sony PSP

2008-04-21T06:50:00.005+08:00

Last year, I purchased a Magnet Stand for my Nintendo DS which helped in keeping the console upright and I need not hold the machine all the time. It's a pretty nifty device by Hori, with very strong magnets at its base. I can attach it, along with the DS, unto the fridge door without worrying about the entire contraption falling off.

I didn't know that there was something similar for the Sony Playstation Portable (PSP), but minus the magnets. Turns out to be that the Display Stand Portable (available in Black and White) is also manufactured by Hori. It supports both the original PSP (PSP-1000) and the new PSP Slim & Lite (PSP-2000).

Have something like a silicon skin or armour protecting your new Slim & Lite? No problem as the display stand will take on all comers as it will accomodate the extra protection in its PSP-1000 mode.

The Hori Display Stand Portable is currently available at Play-Asia in two colours, black and white, at a discounted price of USD 4.99. Click here for further details.

The Nintendo DS Magnet Stand is also available at Play-Asia, for a price of USD 14.90. Click here for further details.

Nine Over Ten 9/10 Now Features Video Reviews

2008-04-20T23:24:00.003+08:00

With the influx of video-based reviews (due to my webcam purchase a couple of days back), it's only right to introduce a new navigation menu called Video Review. Do check it out on the left navigation pane, under Features.

Digidrive High Score Caught On Video!

2008-04-20T21:41:00.004+08:00

I brought on my A-game today and cracked my high score not once but twice in Digidrive. The first attempt brought about an effort 834 metres more than the previous one (3814 m versus 2980 m). And this was done in Hard mode.

Switching to the harder and faster Expert mode brought about a 4278 metre attempt, a brand new high score! And I got that on video!

If you think my limited edition GameBoy Micro Famicom Edition is cool, you can get your own at Play-Asia for nearly half price! Click here for further details.

Star Wars Lightsaber 3 Keyring Gashapon with Pics and Video!

2008-04-19T22:42:00.012+08:00

A package arrived today from Play-Asi a, and after opening and assembling the contents, all I can say is that the Force is strong in the Star Wars Lightsaber 3 Keyring Gashapon collection from Yujin.

If only reviews are so simple. Feast your eyes on the following pictures of my collection of Star Wars Lightsaber 3 Keyring Gashapon, and look out for the video at the end of this post showing how to assemble these lightsabers. Luke Skywalker would be proud indeed.

These things come with batteries included, so once you remove the safety peg on each lightsaber's on/off switch, you are ready to light it up. Here's the video as promised (I've got trouble uploading it to Youtube, so switching to Blogger instead):

Interested in purchasing one or more lightsaber keyrings? Head over to Play-Asia (click here) for purchase details.

Mario Kart DS + Paddle Controller Video!

2008-04-19T01:25:00.003+08:00

Previously I wrote a post on how to enable Mario Kart DS to accept the new Taito Paddle Controller as an input device. Now I've successfully shot a video of me playing Mario Kart DS with the Paddle Controller and actually finishing a race (in second place, no less)!

Do take note of the minute movements on the Paddle Controller which are necessary in order to control the kart properly. Turn too much and you'll be going left, or right, all the time.

Click here to read the previous post on how to use the Paddle Controller with Mario Kart DS.

Tools of the Trade - Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000

2008-04-19T00:56:00.004+08:00

I made a pilgrimage to the high tech mecca of KL known as Low Yat Plaza, and came home with a Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000. This webcam probably eats cheap webcams for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Here are some specs, which are pretty intriguing since they are not available on most web cams: Carl Zeiss lens, Autofocus, 2 megapixel sensor, captures video up to 1600 * 1200 (HD Quality) with HD video at 960 * 720 pixels and captures pictures at up to 8 megapixels (with software interpolation).

Nice eh? Price tag: RM 310. What can you expect from this kind of investment? Video reviews of course. In fact, I have one coming right after this post!

Your Vote Counts - Vote for Nine Over Ten 9/10

2008-04-18T00:03:00.006+08:00

There's a new addition to the "features" portion of Nine Over Ten 9/10's navigation pane. This time it's for movie reviews.

Before I forget, I would like to invite you, cherished readers to vote for my blog in the following categories of Best Geek Blog, Best Entertainment Blog, Best Pop Culture Blog and Best Hobby Blog for the Blogger's Choice Awards. Click on the following mini banners to vote for my blog in this annual compettion:

As a token of gratitude, here are 5 coupons that you can use with your order at Play-Asia to get USD 5 off your 50 dollar (or more) purchase.

KC-NHA-FFN
GU-RGN-ZBE
HY-MBS-JBF
ZR-TYS-ULM
XR-HCX-NOV

These coupons are one-time use only, so better hurry and click here to begin shopping at Play-Asia.

Entire Gyakuten Saiban/Phoenix Wright Series Going For Cheap!

2008-04-16T22:36:00.009+08:00

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for Nintendo DS games, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

There's a whole bunch of Phoenix Wright/Gyakuten Saiban titles selling for a new best price of USD 19.90 each at Play-Asia. The titles are:

Gyakuten Saiban: Mask Vision Murder Case (New Best Price! 2000) / Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (English and Japanese Language Options available) - Click here for purchase details
Gyakuten Saiban 2 (New Best Price! 2000) / Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Justice for All (English and Japanese Language Options available) - Click here for purchase details
Gyakuten Saiban 3 (New Best Price! 2000) / Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations (English and Japanese Language Options available) - Click here for purchase details
Gyakuten Saiban 4 (New Best Price! 2000) (Japanese Language Only) - Click here for purchase details

Here's your chance to get the entire Gyakuten Saiban/Phoenix Wright collection of games for a cheap price. With the exception of Gyakuten Saiban 4, the rest of the games are dual-language.

Space Invaders Extreme and the Paddle Controller - A Review

2008-04-16T06:49:00.003+08:00

I totally forgot that I have the Japanese edition of Space Invaders Extreme sitting pretty in my Nintendo DS games library until Jonathan commented in my previous post. So how does it play with the Paddle Controller?

A little better compared to playing Arkanoid DS (where it was moving too fast like Hammy on caffeine - watch Over the Hedge and you'll get my drift), but this time, the Paddle Controller is too slow. You can see that minute movement is pretty jerky and this being Space Invaders, you'll find yourself needing to anticipate your moves sooner to avoid getting boxed in by enemy fire.

Forget about side-stepping shots at the last moment, the Paddle Controller is simply too slow. You are better off using the D-pad. Coincidentally, the D-pad is used as the fire button if you have the Paddle Controller connected instead, so there's no switching from Paddle to D-pad on the fly when it comes to movement.

One minor detail that I notice is unlike Arkanoid DS (or Mario Kart DS post-patch), you can't use the Paddle Controller while in Space Invaders Extreme's menu mode.

I think it's time to put the Paddle Controller back into its box. And say "Welcome back, D-pad!"

Arkanoid DS with Paddle Controller - A Really Short Review

2008-04-15T23:58:00.006+08:00

For more video game reviews, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

I've got a confession to make. I fell asleep playing Arkanoid DS. I wanted to take my new Paddle Controller for another spin (pun intended) and I was nodding 5 minutes into the game.

I don't know whether it is the really simple graphics (the black gap in the middle between the two screens IS a game breaker), or the horrible controls (the Paddle Controller is sucky because it's too fast) or the now commonplace techno-funky soundtrack (which can give lullabies a run for their money) that caused such a lethargic response from me.

In short, it will be quite a long time before I play that game again.

Anyways, the game is available at Play-Asia for USD 49.90 and comes bundles with the Paddle Controller. Click here for futher details.

Street Kings - A Movie Review

2008-04-15T06:26:00.005+08:00

Casino Royale revealed James Bond to be a blunt instrument, and a rather effective one at that. This year, Keanu Reeves takes on a similar role, as Tom Ludlow, a gun-fighting police detective in the David Ayer directed Street Kings.

Detective Tom Ludlow is one cop you wouldn't want to cross (if you are a felon). The type to deadpan a little before shooting you dead, he is essentially a one man judge, jury and executioner for the vice squad that he works in.

Such is the nature of his work that his superior, Forest Whitaker's Captain Jack Wander, would be left to clean up the mess, often by making evidence go missing, twisting headlines and turning a blind eye to Ludlow's penchant for gunfights. More often than not, the rest of the vice squad would be press-ganged to do clean-up detail and this causes some tension between Ludlow and the rest of the squad.

Not helping matters is a Dr. House like IA captain, James Biggs, played by non other than Hugh Laurie himself, investigating Ludlow and the activities of the vice squad.

When Ludlow's former partner, Washington, gets killed before he gets the chance to bash his jaw in for ratting him out to Biggs, Ludlow uncovers a conspiracy involving Wander, the vice squad and the rest of the police squad.

As a gun-fighting policeman, Keanu Reeves' character is surprisingly "blur". Deployed as a blunt instrument and seemingly prized by his Captain, he doesn't realise that he is just a tool and really is expendable.

Reeves' wooden acting style, as seen in the Matrix movies doesn't really suit a pained detective with baggage (his wife died when she was with another man), but the dead-panned scenes are pretty funny.

I wouldn't recommend watching this ensemble cast in a local cinema even though it's a good one, as true to form, the censors practically butchered the movie, cutting up even lines of dialogue. My suggestion? Wait for the DVD. It should be out anytime soon. Hugh Laurie, not Keanu Reeves, is worth the price of the disc.

What Games to Play With the Nintendo DS Paddle Controller?

2008-04-14T01:15:00.004+08:00

Jon posted an interesting question on my previous article on how to get the Paddle Controller to work with Mario Kart DS: What other games does the Paddle Controller support (a.k.a what other games can you play with the Paddle Controller)?

The two games which I know that officially support the Paddle Controller are Space Invaders Extreme and Arkanoid DS.

The one game that has unofficial support for the Paddle Controller, courtesy of a cheat code, would be Mario Kart DS. Unfortunately for us, the guy that provided the cheat code to do so has not produced any other cheat codes to enable Paddle Controller support on other games.

Keep this page bookmarked, as I'll be updating it as soon as new games that support the Paddle Controller show up.

How To Use the Paddle Controller with Mario Kart DS?

2008-04-12T21:42:00.012+08:00

For more homebrew guides for your Nintendo DS, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

This article could have been titled "How to Add Cheat Codes to Your R4DS?" as what am I about to describe to you is essentially that, but hey, I figured the title is eye-catching, so do bear with it :).

Produced by Taito to go along with its release of Arkanoid DS, the Paddle Controller does seem a little limited in application. However, did you know that you can actually play Mario Kart DS using the same Paddle Controller?

It does require some "cheating" on your part since the Paddle Controller is not officially supported by the game, having been released some two years before this odd-looking controller hit the market. Support for the Paddle Controller can be implemented by means of Action Replay or any flashcart with a built-in cheat function.

Since I don't have an Action Replay, here's a guide on how to add Paddle Controller support for your Mario Kart DS on the R4DS.

There are some prerequisites. You'll need a couple of things:

The cheat string (available at http://yasu.rank.nu/yasu/count.cgi?n=paddle&l=http://home.usay.jp/pc/etc/nds/paddle.xml)
R4 Cheat Code Editor (available at http://yasu.rank.nu/yasu/count.cgi?n=r4cce&l=http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA013928/bin/r4cce08.zip)

Once you have downloaded the R4 Cheat Code Editor, remember to uncompress it to somewhere easily accessible. You'll be using the Cheat Code Editor for most part of the guide.

Start the Cheat Editor by clicking on the r4cce.exe file.
Once in, select File -> Open
Look for the CHEAT.DAT file located in the _system_ folder of your R4DS MicroSD card, and click on the Open button
This will cause all the Cheat Codes stored in the CHEAT.DAT file to be listed out, by game, on the left pane. Look for Mario Kart DS.
Click on the Add Code button in order to enter one of the two cheat strings to enable Paddle Controller support for Mario Kart DS.
Enter the following information (obtained from prerequisite 1.) in the corresponding text boxes:
- Code Title: Virtual D-Pad Patch
- Comment: Press SELECT+START to patch
- Code List: 94000130 FFF30000 023FE074 012FFF11 E0000000 00000030 E92D003F E3A04301 E2844E13 E3A01402 E3A02402 E4920004 E1500004 05021004 E3520623 1AFFFFFA E8BD003F E12FFF1E 023FE074 E3520003 D2000000 00000000
Click on the Add Code button again to enter the second cheat string. Enter the following information (obtained from prerequisite 1.) into the corresponding text boxes:
- Code Title: Paddle Controller Handler
- Comment: by Yasu software (usay.jp)
- Code List: A4000136 00000000 023FE074 012FFF11 E0000000 000000A0 E92D003F E3A04301 E2844C02 E1D400B4 E3800023 E1C400B4 E3A0140A E5D13000 E5D10001 E1833400 E1A03A03 E1A03A43 E59F5060 E3550A0F 01A05003 E2444C01 E1D413B0 E2010030 E3500030 11A05003 E58F5040 E0433005 E59F203C E3730008 B0822003 E3530008 C0822003 E3720C01 B3C11020 B3A02000 E3520C01 C3C11010 C3A02000 E58F2010 E3A04402 E1C410B0 E8BD003F E12FFF1E 0000F000 00000000 023FE074 E3520003 D2000000 00000000
Once this is done, it's time to save the changes that you have done to the CHEAT.DAT file. Click on File->Save to do so.

Now, replace the MicroSD card back into the R4DS flashcart. Before starting the Mario Kart DS ROM on the R4DS, be sure to enable the cheat codes by visiting the Cheat Menu via highlighting the ROM and pressing Y.

Once the game isstarted, press the Start and Select buttons simultaneously. After that, pressing left or right on the direction pad will calibrate the Paddle Controller's centre point to its present position.

Use the Paddle Controller to move left or right (but not up and down) when it comes to menu options and during the race. Be warned though that the Paddle Controller can be quite sensitive, which would lead to some over-steering action :).

The Paddle Controller for the Nintendo DS is available at Play-Asia with the price tag of USD 19.90. Lets just hope that other developers would take advantage of this new controller in order to justify the price tag.

When Robot Fights Go The Way of Jankenpon

2008-04-12T16:00:00.005+08:00

Rock, Paper, Scissors (a.k.a. jankenpon). That's the name of the game for Zoids Battle Colosseum for the Nintendo DS. You start off the game straight into some dueling action; fans of various Zoid anime/manga series will know that duels are fought between giant mechanical war machines that resemble animals.

Get past the first duel and you'll face a larger game world consisting of various coliseums or arenas, if you'd like it that way. Getting around is pretty easy as the game is pretty linear, marking arenas that you should head next to with an exclamation mark.

Duels are initiated by visiting those marked arenas and before a duel, you are to choose your "Zoid", a pilot, and a special attack of sorts (I don't really know actually, since it's in Japanese). Duels, although presented in 3D (and are quite pretty) are fought over rock-paper-scissors style.

Winning duel will award you with more Zoids and more special attacks. It's a pretty simple premise for a pretty game. Even if it's not too much trouble for you to get around the game with some trial and error, it's not really worth buying the game at its full import price. Unless of course, there's a discount, but only hardcore Zoids fans..or Japan-o-philes need apply.

Zoids Battle Colosseum is available at Play-Asia for USD 14.90 with free international shipping to some countries. Click here for purchase details.

Star Wars Lightsabers, Now In A Gashapon Vending Machine Near You!

2008-04-11T19:39:00.004+08:00

I bought a bunch of lightsabers today, over at Play-Asia. Not life-sized ones but those that are part of the Star Wars Lightsaber 3 Keyring Gashapon collection. Even official Star Wars merchandize have joined in the gashapon craze.

Produced by gashapon masters Yujin, this collection consists of lightsabers of Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon Jinn, Mace Windu, Darth Sidious and Count Dooku, all in keychain-size measuring 130mm each. You can expect at least a light display from each of the lightsabers as batteries are included.

Short of looking for a gashapon vending machine, the Star Wars Lightsaber 3 Keyring Gashapon collection is available at Play-Asia. Click here for purchase details.

N5DS Flashcart for Nintendo DS, Con Job or the Real Deal?

2008-04-11T08:47:00.007+08:00

For the latest homebrew articles for the Nintendo DS, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

I remember reading somewhere about a forummer asking for comparisons between the newer N5DS flashcart with the older R4DS flashcart for the Nintendo DS. Curious, I decided to look up for info regarding the N5DS, and I was pretty surprised with my findings.

First of all, have a look at the cache version of the original English N5DS website (here). Look familiar? That's because it's a rip of the English R4DS site. Even the underlying META tags for the R4DS site can be found in the N5DS's HTML code, see below (click to enlarge):

The current site doesn't really state whether the cart supports SDHC (what the hell does "N5 all Hold out SD-HC, 4G & 32 G SD" mean?), but most people have pass it off as a cheaply made R4DS clone (here and here).

Unlike the R4DS however, buying the N5DS comes with a very big caveat, it has a reputation for blowing up the Nintendo DS fuse (here)!

You know what? Forget about the N5DS if you are looking for something to run homebrew, music and video files on the DS. It's simply not worth it.

Win GTA 4 Special Edition!

2008-04-09T11:15:00.004+08:00

It's contest time! The guys over at tfgblog.com are giving you a chance to win a copy of GTA 4 Special Edition!

Head on over to their blog, subscribe to their RSS feed and leave a constructive comment at their site in order to be entered into the contest. Winners will be announced on the 29th of April.

Do head over to tfgblog, specifically this post for further details. And Good Luck!

PS: Guys over at tfgblog, don't forget to add me to your blogroll :)

PPS: If you are feeling unlucky, or left out (after all, the contest is open for those living in the States or Canada), GTA 4 is available for pre-orders at Play-Asia.

Oshare Majo Love and Berry First Looks With Pictures

2008-04-08T20:27:00.008+08:00

The advantage of being a video games blogger (and a one who does his research) is that you'll know what to answer when your other half points out to a Love and Berry arcade machine and asks what is it.

That was exactly what happened while I was holidaying at Genting last weekend. To the benefit of those not in the know, Love and Berry is a cross between a rhythm game and a card collecting game and generally appeals to girls. The cards that you collect (from playing the game) can be swiped at the card reader equipped arcade machines to allow you to play dress up with your characters.

This SEGA game spawned a DS spin-off titled Oshare Majo Love and Berry (DS Collection), and guess what, it arrived in my mailbox earlier today :). The Nintendo DS game comes with its very own Card Reader (which goes into the Slot-2) which reads cards obtained from the arcade version of the game!

One word of caution though, it appears that the game does not read cards from the English arcade version of the game, which is understandable since the DS release is Japanese only. I haven't gone about playing the game (it has joined the long list that is "games bought but waiting to be played") but here are some pictures for the curious:

Oshare Majo Love and Berry (DS Collection) is available at Play-Asia for just USD 19.90. Click here for further details.

One Piece Key Chains - Featuring Chopper!

2008-04-08T06:55:00.005+08:00

Here's something for all you One Piece fans out there, One Piece Key Chain figurine s from Cube, featuring Chopper in various facial expressions!

This set features 7 different variations and 1 secret figure, and each of these 6 centimeter tall figures go for USD 4.90 each. Head over to Play-Asia to collect them all. For more details, click here for the product page.

The Thing About Bloggers and Perks

2008-04-08T06:16:00.003+08:00

The hot topic for the past couple of days both on and off the air was about bloggers. Sunday's News Straits Times featured an articles about bloggers (I didn't know there's such thing as bloggers ethics, its a free for all these days) and during Mix.fm's morning show yesterday, the radio announcers (they are not called DJs anymore), were talking about celebrity bloggers and the perks they get.

Later in the evening, a friend of mine was complaining on how some bloggers get all the nice stuff (invites to events as media, gifts, etc etc) and how some don't.

Well, it all boils down to hard work. Getting your blog noticed requires a lot of dedication, and determination (and some semblance of writing skill) on your part. And although my hit count is way lower than that of Kenny Sia and Xiaxue, I've received my fair share of perks as well, example:

Invites to cover media events, such as EA's Play 08
Free stuff, like the t-shirts I got from 80stees.
Free movie screenings
Fan mail
Advertising revenue, which I used to purchase many of the new games you see in my video games library.

And of course there's the sheer satisfaction of seeing the hit count rise, and getting to know similar people who are hard at work on their very own video games related sites. You can find them in my blog roll :)

Nine Over Ten 9/10 Leveled Up!

2008-04-08T00:07:00.005+08:00

I did some changes to make Nine Over Ten 9/10 a little more presentable. I got rid of my list of games that I had reviewed, and replaced it with a clickable mini banner featuring Mario.

And I also added a mini navigational banner for all my sales/discount/bargain bin posts. All these are available on the left navigational pane, so don't forget to click 'em!

Metroid Prime Pinball with Rumble Pak - Only USD 14.90

2008-04-07T07:00:00.006+08:00

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for the Nintendo DS, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

Nintendo DS fans have slightly less than a day and a half to take advantage of the latest promotion at Play-Asia. The Japanese version of Metroid Prime Pinball is available on sale at the online retailer's website, for just USD 14.90. And it comes with a Rumble Pak!

So, aim your balls at Play-Asia.com, lol. For more details, please visit the product page here. It's pinball, so you don't really need to know Japanese to play the game. And yes, the cover art is way cooler than that of the English version (below)

Nine Over Ten 9/10 is Back from Genting Highlands Break

2008-04-06T20:57:00.004+08:00

Participants of last year's Genting Trailblazer 2007 would probably remember that each of them received a Genting Theme Park All Park One Day Unlimited Ride Complimentary Voucher.

So yesterday I packed my bags, and checked in to a 2 days 1 night stay at Genting Highland's First World Hotel with a bunch of friends (also Trailblazer participants). Two things we wanted to do: a. make use of the complimentary vouchers (they expire on 1st June 2008) and b. check out the casino.

I rarely visit Genting Highlands and have only been there once in the last five years, and that was also for last year's Genting Trailblazer. So as you can imagine, I was pretty excited about the trip. The first thing that shocked me upon arriving at the hotel was that a Venti Iced Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks costs so much, compared to buying the same drink at any Starbucks outlet in KL.

It was at Starbucks that I realised I brought the DS, sans the R4 or any games. Pure stroke of genius. LOL.

Price differences and lack of video games aside, the First World Hotel lobby is pretty impressive, and the amount of people checking-in warrants a ticketing system. Grab a ticket and then go grab a cup of coffee to wait your turn at one of the check-in counters.

We visited the casinos on the first day. Notice it's casinos instead of casino, as we visited the big old one, which was pretty smoky, and congested, and the newer one at the First World. I like the newer casino; it's probably a little smaller than the older one, but still cleaner and has free coffee and Milo for everyone!

I played the slot machines, and even managed to get myself one of those new-fangled Genting World Cards and a complimentary stay. Hehe. Before I forget, I saw Love and Berry arcade machines, as well as Mushi King machines on my way to casino!

Foodwise, we had dinner at the restaurant in the old casino. I don't recommend the place since everything tasted bland. Next day's breakfast was at the First World Cafe, which was pretty bland as well. Buffets suck up there in Genting, it's just a means of filling the tummy and it's back to gambling for most people.

Try something else instead if it's a family outing or a date; you can do no worse then to go for a buffet.

We went to the Theme Park on Sunday, and it was pretty cool, sat some of the rides, but not all of them as it was exhausting. I liked the Flume ride, but do wear something light as you might get drenched.

Anyways, I'm back. Now lets get to work.

Nine Over Ten 9/10 Takes A Two Day Break

2008-04-05T08:29:00.003+08:00

I'm off for a short break. Won't be bringing the laptop along but the DS instead :). Games that are tagging along:

Dementium: The Ward (sounds scary)
Mushi King
Namco Museum
Need for Speed: Pro Street
Hokuto No Ken
Yu Gi Oh

Yup, it's all R4 this time, as all my new original games are still in transit (bit Generations: Coloris, Boundish and Soundvoyager, Arkanoid DS, and Love and Berry).

New Zealand Story Revolution a.k.a Cute Overload - A Game Review

2008-04-05T06:45:00.007+08:00

For more video game reviews, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

I'll put it straight up that I'm pretty inept when it comes to platform games and I avoid buying them because I'll stop playing as soon as my first encounter with a level boss. That's why I have not gotten round buying any of the Castlevania games and my library is only limited to New Super Mario Bros, which has pretty easy boss fights.

When I first heard about New Zealand Story Revolution, I was wondering why the developers decided to name the game that way and was about to dismiss it as a TRAVEL GUIDE (the trouble with names). Little did I know that the game had a pedigreed past (well received arcade game with a lot of console ports) and is actually a really good and cute, but very tough 2D platform game.

It's pretty hard to put in 3 nice adjectives in a sentence to summarise a game (usually people will describe New Super Mario Bros. as just "awesome"), but that's how New Zealand Story Revolution is.

The game will have you play as a kiwi chick, out to rescue his fellow kiwis kidnapped by a walrus. The levels deserve a special mention here, as environmental obstacles such as spikes (and spike trips) combine with a factory line production of enemies to produce a really tough gaming experience!

Due to its nature as a platform game, gamers will be jumping around from platform to platform, some of which as miniscule as small block, miss them and you might end up hitting a strip of spikes lying underneath; or hitch a ride vehicles such as cars or balloons.

Fortunately, the game provides you with a host of weapon power-ups to deal with the never ending amount of enemies. These can be obtained from fallen enemies and will replace your default arrow shot with the ice shot or bomb shot or a sword and shield, amongst other things. You'll also get to collect letters, spelling out Extend, although I do not know what's this for.

The objective of each level is to rescue a kiwi chick at the end of the level. The touch screen is use sporadically, to turn door knobs, and to spot the difference between the top and bottom screens (in order to open up a jump/warp gate to progress).

If you are wondering where I stopped, well, it's at the first boss, the ice whale. Anyways, the graphics are really nice and is an upgrade from the NES version, which plays almost the same minus the touchscreen elements. And yes, the NES version plays fine on nesDS emulator for the Nintendo DS. Just bear in mind that the US NES release is known as Kiwi Kraze.... don't ask me why.

New Zealand Story Revolution is available at Play-Asia, click here for purchase details. Free international shipping is available for certain countries.

bit Generations Blow Out

2008-04-04T22:57:00.003+08:00

For more video game reviews, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

I got a pretty good bargain today, 3 bit Generation games for a total of just USD 38.70. The games are Soundvoyager, Coloris and Boundish. It works out to about USD 13 a game, and these are Japanese imports mind you.

Along with Digidrive, this would mean that I'm just 2 games away from completing my colllection of bit Generation games.

Most readers would know that I hold Digidrive in high regard. It's one of those games that have that "hook". It's easy to play but difficult to master, and that just keeps you coming back for more. I could practically write another review of the game, but here's my earlier review.

Iron Man: Do Missions, Earn Money, Forget You Are Tony Stark

2008-04-04T00:26:00.005+08:00

I was reading with slight amusement IGN's preview on the new Iron Man game. Here's the excerpt that had me chuckling.

As you progress through the game, the money you earn by completing missions can be used to upgrade the key systems of your suit. The better you do in the missions, the more money you have to spend.

Now, anyone who reads Iron Man comics would probably know that he doesn't make money doing superhero stuff. Can't they have a game that focuses on R&D of the suit (or just introduce Extremis), money is so yesterday when it comes to Tony Stark. He is already a billionaire several times over to begin with.

Racing Games on the DS: Going Fast, And Then Some

2008-04-03T23:17:00.009+08:00

Most Nintendo DS gamers would agree that one of the best racing games on the platform (in fact one of the best games regardless of genre) would be Mario's karting outing on the console, Mario Kart DS. With a plethora of characters, tracks, pretty graphics, fun mini games, fast gameplay and Nintendo WFC multiplayer to boot, has any other racing game matched such gaming goodness?

Not really. Perhaps it's the lack of memorable characters. Mario Kart DS featured an entire cast of fan favourites while games such as Diddy Kong (who?) Racing featured the apes from the Donkey Kong franchise. Who likes playing as an ape all the time? I'd rather be a certain popular Italian plumber.

Even games such as Need for Speed Pro Street and Race Driver: Create & Race, where graphics and realism are two equally important selling points, are hard-pressed to be as memorable like Mario Kart DS. There's one thing of creating very nicely rendered cars and there is another matter of viewing the same cars through the small screens on the DS.

In the words of the late Joker (Heath Ledger), "Why so realistic?"

And then there are the mediocre titles, which do nothing to provide a better video game exprience. Hot Wheels: Beat It may be sitting at the better end of this low spectrum but don't be fooled by the initial FMV sequence as the in-game audio is horrendous. All the crackling and popping will have you thinking that your Nintendo DS speakers have gone bust.

Go down one level and you'll have shovelware. I can't really think of any except for Homie Rollerz and that game is just plain drivel.

So, with racing games being as they are on the Nintendo DS, can we expect a better game to that of Mario Kart DS? Maybe perhaps a sequel. Now I'd buy that!

Blaxploitation, On The DS?

2008-04-03T00:31:00.006+08:00

Blaxploitation, define by Wikipedia as a film genre that stereotyped black people, presenting them as drug dealers and pimps. This kind of stereotype is also common place in video games, and it was just a matter of time before it arrived on the kid-friendly Nintendo DS.

For instance, take a look at Hommie Rollerz for the Nintendo DS. As a piece of shovelware racing game, its quite underwhelming and there's no particular reason to purchase it. However, there's the stereotypical potrayal of black, latino, and even white characters.

I wouldn't say this game will set a dangerous precedence to childred (like they are going to play it anyway), but I bet more games are to follow.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games - A Game Review

2008-04-02T05:56:00.006+08:00

For more video game reviews, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

With China's human rights records being in question, this year's Olympics has the potential of eclipsing both the Atlanta and Greece Olympics in terms of controversy. As a refresher, a bomb exploded during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and while there were no bombs in the 2004 Greece Olympics, the organizers had a 1.5 billion US dollars bill, just for security!

One can expect protests and outright boycotts from athletes for the Beijing Games over China's human rights records but this hasn't stop Nintendo and Sega from coming up with "the first official game of the 2008 Summer Olympics". If that isn't enough, the game features two video game icons normally associated as rivals back when Sega was still making consoles, Mario and Sonic.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for the NIntendo DS, like the Olympics Games, is a multi-sport event. Instead of national athletes the game pits the cast of various Super Mario Bros. and Sonic the Hedgehog games, such as Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Dr Eggman and Sonic in a variety of sporting events. The "athletes" are grouped into categories such as all-rounders, power type, skill type and speed type.... I didn't know Peach was skillful in anything except being kidnapped all the time.

The single player mode offers up Single Match play, where players compete in a single event such as swimming, table tennis, and track and field events (100 meters dash, etc). The Circuit mode basically packages these single events together and the Mission mode will have players playing mini games in particular events such as jumping successfully three times for a total over 20 meters in the Long Jump event.

Here's a piece of trivia: The venue for the events featured in this game take the names of the actual venues in the Beijing Olympics. So, if you have played this game and someone were to ask you where are the cycling events held during the Beijing Olympics, answer confidently. "It's at the Laoshan Velodrome!" I feel smarter already.

While the game looks a little raw graphics wise, the developers peppered the game with voice work for each of the characters and for the announcements that occur during the events. An even nicer touch would be the playback which occurs at the end of the event, so you'll get to see how well (or poorly) you fared.

During the course of the game, you rake up medals, trophies, emblems and crowns, giving you a sense of achievement which while not the same as winning a medal in the actual Olympics, is actually something :). The game only offers up local WiFi multiplayer and the Nintendo WFC functionality (seen on the cover of the game) is for uploading and checking your global rankings.

Last but not least, the Gallery mode will have gamers playing mini-games (again, Sega games are chokeful of mini games, don't you think?) to unlock bits of Olympic trivia. No doubt another enterprise to impress your pals. "Why are the Olympic Games held every four years?" "Because the ancient Olympic Games that took place in Olympia, Greece were held every four years" LOL.

Mario & Sonic makes for a pretty decent casual game, and hardcore gamers wouldn't be left out too since button mashing to new records (a wet dream for real athletes) and rewards galore is the order of game. More so, this game answers the age-old online discussion favourite, who will win in a 100 meter dash? Sonic or Mario?

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games and other games for the Nintendo DS are available at Play-Asia, with free international shipping to certain countries. Click here for purchase details.

Hurry, Before the Sale Ends!

2008-03-31T22:13:00.002+08:00

There's just about 1 hour and 45 minutes left till the end of Play-Asia's Easter Egg sales where all in-stock items are applicable to a 20% discount! Quickly grab your hands on video games (including those Japanese ones), toys, figurines, various collectibles and HD DVDs (I bet they are really cheap now) before it's too late.

Imported Japanese Video Games Shopping Spree

2008-03-29T06:10:00.005+08:00

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for the Nintendo DS, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

Most readers of Nine Over Ten 9/10 would know that I'm import-friendly. That would mean I'm not adversed to buying and playing Japanese games, especially for my Nintendo DS and GBM. And I just bought 2 Japanese games, Arkanoid DS (with Paddle Controller) and Love and Berry (with card reader) for just USD 55!

Since Play-Asia is having it's Easter Egg sale (20% off all in-stock items), here's a list of imported Japanese Nintendo DS games that you might want to check out, given the cheap prices:

Oto o Tsunagou! Gunpey Reverse (USD 7.12) ~ Ridiculously cheap. I even bought one for a friend not too long ago when it was selling at USD 9.90
Ryusei no Rockman: Dragon, Leo, Pegasus (USD 7.12)
Kimochi Chiyosa Rensa Puzzle Trion Cube (USD 11.92)
Kouchuu Ouja Mushi King: Greatest Champion e no Michi DS (USD 11.92)
Zoids Battle Colosseum (USD 11.92)
Platinum Sudoku (USD 13.52) ~ US Release
Ash: Archaic Sealed Heat (USD 15.92)
Oshare Majo Love and Berry (DS Collection) (USD 15.92)
Slide Adventure: Mag Kid (USD 15.92)
Theta (USD 19.90)
Prince of Tennis 2005: Crystal Drive (Konami the Best) (USD 23.92)
Rockman ZX, Rockman ZX Advent (USD 23.9
Subarashiki Kono Sekai: It's a Wonderful World (USD 27.92)
Arkanoid DS with Paddle Controller (USD 39.90)

As mentioned in my earlier post, the sales period ends on the 31st of March. So better hurry! Click here to read about GBA games that you should buy during Play-Asia's Easter Egg sale.

GBA Games to Buy During Play-Asia's Easter Sale (Ends 31st March)

2008-03-29T05:28:00.003+08:00

Play-Asia's Easter Egg Sale is probably a good time to stock up on the following GBA titles (if you haven't already done so, or if they are not sold out or no longer applicable for the 20% discount). All are imported Japanese titles unless stated otherwise:

bit Generations: Boundish (USD 7.92)
Famicom Mini Series Vol. 12: Clu Clu Land (USD 10.32)
Famicom Mini Series Vol. 07: Xevious (USD 15.92)
Famicom Mini Series Vol. 10: Star Soldier (USD 7.92)
Made in Wario (USD 11.92)
Donkey Kong: King of Swing / Bura Bura Donkey (USD 11.92)
Mario Golf GBA Tour (USD 11.92)
Wario Land Advance (USD 11.92)
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (USD 23.12)
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (USD 23.12)
Final Fantasy 5 Advance (US) (USD 27.92)
The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood (USD 31.92)

The sale period ends on Monday, the 31st of March, but titles are getting sold out pretty quickly, so hurry! For more details on the sale, read all about it here.

Fan Mail - How to be a Pirate on the Nintendo DS

2008-03-28T06:15:00.005+08:00

For the latest homebrew articles for the Nintendo DS, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

I occasionally get fan-mail, mostly on Nintendo DS flashcarts such as the R4DS and what can these devices do. However, I seldom get a laundry list of questions, but since I did get an e-mail with one (list) yesterday, I thought it would be nice to share to my readers, so here goes:

Hi there- I've been surfing the web, hoping to find a straightforward answer to my questions, but with no luck. Maybe you could help me. I'm still unclear which card will work best for me and my Nintendo DS Lite. Maybe you can help me out. Here is what I want to do, in order of importance, and hopefully with as few extra gadgets as possible:

1. Not Break my Nintendo DS Lite
2. Play GBA Roms- specifically the upcoming fan translation of "Mother 3"
3. Edit my Retail cart Save Game- specifically, Pokèmon Diamond
3b. If I can't edit my save, can I at least use cheat codes?
4. Play SNES Roms
5. Play MP3s, and maybe some video
I hope you can help me figure this outt.

Here are my answers:

With flashcarts, you need not reach for a screwdriver or a sledgehammer as a matter a fact.
You'll need something like an EZ-Flash V, which I don't have. Read the review, here.
Cheat? Yup. But editing saves? I don't know.
Yup, just run SNemulDS, a homebrew SNES emulator
Yup, just run Moonshell.

To sum it up, I think you are better off getting the EZ-Flash V. For the last 2 items, check out my whole bunch of R4DS guides on my blog, over here. Nine Over Ten 9/10 shall not be responsible for loss of data or reduced user experiece that might stem from playing pirated games on the Nintendo DS. Support original games.

Play-Asia's Easter Egg Sales - 20% OFF In-stock Items

2008-03-28T00:10:00.004+08:00

Just in case you missed the previous sales on Play-Asia, here's your chance to redeem yourself with Play-Asia's Easter Egg sale. There will be 20% off of every "in-stock" item so here's your chance to grab video games, especially Japanese import games, limited edition consoles, figurines, gashapons at discounted prices!

For further details, visit Play-Asia's sales page over here. Sales period ends on the 31st of March, so hurry!

Takara G1 Music Label Convoy iPod Speaker with Dock, Available Now!

2008-03-26T21:51:00.006+08:00

Transformers fans, you know you want one of these Music Label Transformers G1 Convoy iPod Speaker with Dock. You guys can rejoice as the wait is now over! Takara's G1 repaint of the Music Label Convoy is now available at Play-Asia.

Feast your eyes on the pictures of this really cool looking re-paint (pictures obtained from amiami.com):

Here are some technical details for this limited edition item:

Official Transformers Figure
Official "Made for iPod" product
iPod Speakers comes in grey colour with Convoy strip on the side
Height: approx 15cm (Convoy in robot mode)
Compatible with all iPods except iPod shuffle

Interested? Transform and roll out....I mean head over to Play-Asia.com and order now (click here for further details).

The Touch Pen Way To Fighting

2008-03-25T23:18:00.004+08:00

Hokuto no Ken, otherwise known as Fist of the North Star, sits near the top of my list of favourite manga series. A violent and often graphic martial arts manga, it's probably the only comic book which has the Bruce Lee-like protagonist going a-ta-ta-ta! all the time, just like the legend himself.

Anyways, I wouldn't be at a lost of words to describe the latest Hokuto no Ken game for the Nintendo DS, Hokuto no Ken: Hokuto Kami Denshoumono no Michi. To put it succinctly, the game is like Ouendan and its ilk (Ouendan 2, EBA).

Take the manga panel style gameplay of Ouendan, replace the panels with scenes from the Hokuto No Ken manga, and substitute the soundtrack with kungfu yells and screams, and there you go.

Fans of Hokuto no Ken will know that Kenshiro fighting style involves hitting an opponent's acupuncture points and this game indulges in that. Most of the time, enemies will be occupying the manga panels, and you'll have to tap on dots (representing those acupuncture points) appearing on those enemies within a time limit.

Hitting all the dots within a panel will get you a "Perfect" rating (and "shattering" the enemies at the same time, we wouldn't have it any other way, of course) while missing one or two, will earn you a "Great" rating. Sometimes, it is only possible to advance by getting a "Perfect" rating. The game will also have you sliding the stylus furiously back and forth in some segments.

There's plenty of voice work going on, which is cool and if you do read Japanese, it's like reading the manga itself (while tapping on dots). The artwork in the manga panels is a visual treat because unlike the manga, which is normally B&W, the game is in full colour (yay!).

One of the problems I foresee is that the game might get boring in a while. After all, the game has no catchy soundtrack to speak of (unless you consider Bruce Lee as a songbird); it's mainly about tapping dots before the timer runs out.

Even so, I like the game. And fans of the manga would probably lap it up. Hokuto no Ken: Hokuto Kami Denshoumono no Michi is available at Play-Asia with free international shipping to certain countries. Click here for further details.

What I'm Playing, And What Would I Like to Play on the NDS.

2008-03-25T06:04:00.005+08:00

Just a short post in this morning. What I'm currently playing now on my Nintendo DS and Game Boy Micro? Here goes*:

What would I really love to play*?

I wonder whether would I be able to accomodate a PSP while there are so many games on the DS to play. What about you guys?

*Titles listed here are available at Play-Asia. Click on the links for purchase details. Play-Asia ships for free to certain countries.

Japanese Import Review: Bakusou Dekotora Densetsu BLACK

2008-03-23T21:35:00.005+08:00

For more video game reviews, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

Mention Bakusou Dekotora Densetsu Black and most people would go a wa wa what? It's a truck (or lorry, if you are a Brit) racing game for the Nintendo DS.

I don't really like trucks. They are akin to adding fuel to fire that is rush-hour traffic. The sight of them clogging up the Kesas highway is usually accompanied with a lot of finger tapping on the steering wheel while inching along a 3 kilometer stretch.

Bakusou Dekotora Densetsu Black is anything but a traffic jam. In fact, it has more in common with Burnout! You race AI-controlled boss trucks who in turn have an endless supply of henchmen cars who would try to thwart you. Just use your truck to ram into these cars and the boss trucks. You win a race by destroying the enemy boss truck.

It's a pretty simple premise backed up by a simple looking 3D engine. Since you are mainly racing on straight roads with a jump or two thrown in for good measure, the graphics do not stop the onset of sleepiness when you are playing this game. Couple this with forgettable audio (I don't even remember whether the game has a soundtrack), you are much better off playing Mario Kart...or Burnout on the PS2.

Hardcore Japanese import fans can probably satisfy their curiosity by buying the game. It is available at Play-Asia for USD 48.90 (click here for details). But for the rest of us (and that applies to yours truly as well) stay well away.

Sega Superstars Tennis for Nintendo DS - A Review

2008-03-22T21:30:00.007+08:00

For more video game reviews, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

In retrospect, Sega's decision to quit making consoles and instead focusing on making games for other consoles is a good one for gamers in general. Otherwise we wouldn't be enjoying such an excellent tennis game for in the Nintendo DS in the form of Sega Superstars Tennis.

I admit that I approached this title with rather high hopes, as the previous tennis game I played, Prince of Tennis: Crystal Drive, although GBA-ish, delivered quite an enjoyable experience. I'm happy to say that Sega Superstars Tennis has exceeded even my expectations and probably is one of the better games I've played this year.

Almost every part of the game screams excellent production values and from the start you are greeted with a FMV sequence which would probably give the Crystal Chronicles or Revenant Wings developers a run for their money.

With its player roster being a showcase of Sega icons such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Nights, Amigo, Dr. Egghead and Ulala, the developers have set out to provide just that, and then some. Gameplay is realised in 3D, not unlike another Sega title, Virtua Tennis for the PSP.

While the DS is not much of a pixel pusher compared to the PSP, character models and the various courts that they play on are jaw droppingly pretty, and look Ma, no lag! As a nice touch, the tennis courts in the Sega Superstar Tennis are based on past Sega titles. Among those titles featured include Curien Mansion (House of the Dead), Space Channel 5, Samba de Amigo with more to be unlocked.

The usual suspects are here when it comes to gameplay options. There's the Quick Play mode and the Single Player mode which allows players to have a match against the computer opponent in either singles or doubles matches. If you are up for it, there's a tournament mode within the Single Player mode as well.

As mentioned earlier, the player roster reads like a who's who list of Sega icons and while you have 8 characters to choose from the start, there are 8 more waiting to be unlocked! Each character has his/her/its own style of play, some are power players while some are spin or all-rounders. In addition to that, characters such as Nights handle differently then others as she floats instead of being grounded.

Each character has also a special ability which can be triggered during gameplay with the right-shoulder button. Abilities work like those featured in Crystal Drive and can only be triggered when the star on the character's feet starts glowing. It is not a convulated as Crystal Drive and while the number of abilities are noticeably lesser, at least you don't need to remember combos :).

Multiplayer mode is confined to local WiFi, which is a little bit disappointing, as I planned to take my A-game online :).

One of the more interesting aspects of Virtua Tennis for the PSP was its collection of mini games and likewise, Sega Superstars Tennis doesn't disappoint. Accessible from the Single Player mode screen, these mission games are themed according to various Sega games such as ChuChu Rocket!, Super Monkey Ball, Virtua Squad and Curien Mansion (House of the Dead).

For example, the House of the Dead mission will have you hitting tennis balls at zombies crawling out from the ground amongst other things. The Virtua Squad mission will definitely give fans of the arcade game a pleasant surprise. I wouldn't spoil it for you; get the game and find out for yourself!

I am so getting this game. Sega Superstars Tennis is available at the following online retailers, click on them for further details:

Play-Asia ~ USD 34.90 (Free International Shipping)
Amazon UK ~ £24.98 (Super Saver Delivery - within UK)
Amazon.com ~ USD 29.95 (Super Saver Shipping - within US)

I would recommend International buyers to opt for Play-Asi a. Never failed me once.

Space Invaders R4DS Theme

2008-03-22T09:19:00.008+08:00

For more homebrew guides for the Nintendo DS, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

I had a bit of time to kill last night, so I ended up making a theme for the R4DS. And guess what is the theme of that theme (pun intended or not, it's irrelevant :P)? It's Space Invaders!

It's a little rough around the edges, since I'm a little lazy at editing the theme.ini. So this is how my first masterpiece actually looks like:

I would probably come up with a set of 12, featuring retro games. But in the mean time, here's the theme, available at YouSendIt.com.

This is not Potty Training

2008-03-20T23:52:00.003+08:00

I don't think I have a PC Engine emulator on the Nintendo DS, even if I did have one, I wouldn't want to check out this dubiously titled game...Toilet Kids.

Japan is probably the number one offender for producing games with utterly silly or ridiculous names... but Toilet Kids? Come on.

Anyways, it's a vertical shooter, and you can read the reviews on Destructoid and PC Engine Software Bible. On the plus point, this might be a collector's item. If you think the prices on Ebay for this game are exorbitant (here), check out Play-Asia's over here. It comes along with free shipping too.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Thank You Problem Fixed!

2008-03-20T14:53:00.006+08:00

For the latest R4DS articles for the Nintendo DS, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

Okie dokie. Looks like some people are listening to the cries of despair of folks who are trying to run Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles on their Nintendo DS/R4DS combination. The new R4 v.1.17 kernel fixes among other things, the "Thank You for Playing" screen appearing when playing FFCC.

Looks like the problem has been resolved, all equilibrium restored to the universe, so please continue being cheap because you don't want to dish out money for a 128MB game.

Those looking to try out Powerplay Tennis on the older firmware might find themselves disappointed but don't fret since the latest firmware fixes the problem as well.

I bet you can't wait anymore so here's the download link for the new v.1.17 kernel for the R4DS, or visit the R4DS kernel page for more details. Now be grateful, thankful even, and no nasty comments. Go play your game.

As a Video Games Blogger, what's in your bookshelf?

2008-03-20T00:16:00.007+08:00

For the latest articles, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

I just got around finishing The Hobbit. Very good read indeed despite the book being meant for a younger audience than that of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

On the subject of books, what do video game bloggers read? In terms of non-fiction material regarding video games, my bookshelf has the quintessential John Carmack/John Romero biography and therefore id Software's, the aptly titled Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created An Empire and Transformed Pop Culture (David Kushner, 2004, available at Amazon UK and Amazon US)

The book has company in the form of GAMEplan's The Encyclopedia of Consoles, Handhelds & Home Computers 1972-2005 (Winnie Forster, 2005, available at Amazon UK and Play-Asia (cheaper)). This console bible (as I would call it) contains a lot of stuff, particularly on retro video game consoles and their games.

Magazines wise, I used to read quite a bit of PC Gamer, before I grew bored of it. Now the shelf is populated with issues of EDGE. The highlight here is the EDGE Presents the Art of Video Games. An extra thick issue with lots of artwork from video game artists.

In terms of fiction, I've not gone about buying and reading all those Diablo, Starcraft or even Warhammer 40K books, but I do have quite a bit of science fiction books. There's almost the entire Dune series sitting on my bookshelf along with a bunch of Star Wars and Halo books. And that's pretty much it.

So what about you guys? What do you read?

Iwaver FM 1/28 Digital Propotional RC Cars with ABS Brakes

2008-03-19T06:10:00.008+08:00

Play-Asia has been serving up some rather interesting toys lately, namely the Iwaver FM 1/28 Digital Propotional range of remote-controlled (RC) cars.

Like the Bumblebee car that I saw in a Radio Shack in Dubai, these RC cars can be upgraded with various parts. The backlitted FM digital transmitter is a sight to behold in itself and this device is also upgradeable.

A little bit of technical specs for those who are RC-inclined...and wau...ABS brakes!

Ready To Run
FM Transmission
LCD Display
Proportional Throttle
Proportional Steering
ABS Brake
Available Optional Parts
Full Function
Adjustable Steering Trim
Adjustable Throttle Trim
130 Motor
4 Different Pinion Gears
Exchangeable Tires
Adjustable F / R Suspension

A variety of car models is featured, including the Ford GT, Ford Mustang, the Saleen S7 and various Mini Cooper variations. Click on the links for purchase details, or click here for the entire list.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles On Your R4? Read this first.

2008-03-18T21:56:00.007+08:00

For the latest R4DS articles for the Nintendo DS, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

Name a game from a really popular video game franchise that behaves like a piece of shareware on the Nintendo DS. Stumped? The answer would be a pirated copy of Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles.

Stumped even more? Now, if you are an owner of a R4DS, M3, TTDS, or whatever Slot-1 flashcart with a fancy acronym for a name, you would probably be in for a surprise should you play the ROM (a.k.a pirated) version of Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles.

According to a commentor on this particular GoNintendo post, the guys at Square Enix probably built in some form of copy protection into the game which checks the game's file size from time to time. Since Slot-1 flashcarts require ROMs to be DLDI-patched, the patching process actually alters the ROM's file size.

In the case of Crystal Chronicles, the copy protection will trigger a "Thank you for playing!!" page after 10 minutes of play with the pirated ROM on a Slot-1 flashcart. Smart readers would probably realize that this doesn't affect Slot-2 users at all.

Now, pirates being pirates, they are actually a really persistant bunch. Apparently there's now a solution to the problem. The guys at FR actually highlighted a tool (which I think patches the game) and a little bit of Googling wouldn't hurt your chances of finding that site.

Anyways, my advice would be to get the original game. Saves you a whole lot of trouble, and it's guaranteed to work, unlike the pirated one. The original Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicle s is available at Play-Asia for USD 44.90. Click here for further details.

Mario Kart DS Merchandize: Mario Kart Race Sets

2008-03-18T06:00:00.008+08:00

Still moaning/crying/weeping over the fact that "snaking" is not available in Mario Kart Wii (click here for details)? Well don't, because here's a piece of Mario Kart merchandize that probably wouldn't snake but promises to be quite fun.

It's an officially Nintendo licensed Mario Kart DS Mario vs Yoshi Race Set, complete with scenery. I guess you can control the speed of the karts with the supplied controller and this thing would probably need a power socket to work.

Anyways, if you don't like that green dinosaur (I'm one of those who don't), there's a Mario vs. Donkey Kong race set too.

Just don't expect blue shells to come with these things. Banana peels are entirely optional on your part :).

Really nice stuff, click here to preorder the Mario vs. Yoshi race set or here to preorder the Mario vs. Donkey Kong race set.

Mr. Bean on the Nintendo DS - A Game Review

2008-03-17T01:00:00.004+08:00

For more video game reviews, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

Throughout my entire TV-watching life, Mr. Bean is probably the funniest character on TV who no one would dare associate with. Come on, being called or compared to Mr. Bean isn't funny at all even though his silly/funny antics kept us tuning in week after week.

One spin-off from the live-action Mr. Bean TV series is the animated (duh) series by Tiger Aspect, which is currently being shown on Astro's Disney Channel. Animation probably adds more effect to Mr. Bean's already absurd behaviour. According to the Wikipedia article on the series, Mr. Bean's animated actions are taken from Rowan Atkinson (the guy who plays Mr. Bean in the live series) himselft!

Anyways,Pinnacle has just released a video game based on Mr. Bean: The Animated Series, and it is actually quite a bit better than most tv-show/movie tie-ins. Remember The Golden Compass on the Nintendo DS? I don't think so.

Mr Bean for the Nintendo DS surprises by being quite an adept platformer. Graphics-wise, it adopts a cell-shaded look while retaining the character designs from the animation series. One thing that makes the game stand out is unlike The Simpsons game which took a 2D approach, Mr. Bean is actually in 3D but the game restricts you to the X and Y planes on a linear path. Hence, a 3D 2D platformer...if such a thing existed in the first place.

Like any platformer worth its salt, there is a Story mode. Mr. Bean's teddy has been kidnapped by that dratted cat. Mr. Bean must collect cat biscuits in order to free him. Mr. Bean encounters a lot of enemies along the way, including frogs, bees, guard dogs and moles! To assist Mr. Bean in his endeavours, there're some items such as bug spray, cooking pans and a weird looking hat that renders him invulnerable for a few seconds.

The game will have the player jumping onto moving platforms (it's a platformer alright), pulling and pushing crates, and avoiding environmental obstacles such as explosives(!), pits, garden hoes, water hazards and pointy stuff that come up from the ground. If it does sound daunting, rest assured that the gameplay caters for children and it is rather forgiving.

Finishing levels provides not many incentives except for unlocking mini games such as "whack-a-mole" and jigsaw puzzles. Replay value is limited in the Story mode as the only other thing you can do is to play as Mr. Bean's girlfriend.

Despite that, this game would most certainly appeal to children and fans of the TV series. Currently an European release, Mr. Bean for the Nintendo DS is available on Amazon UK. Click here for purchase details.

Space Invaders Extreme (Japanese Import) - A Review

2008-03-15T07:23:00.009+08:00

For more video game reviews, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

"Toto, I've got a feeling that we are not in 1978 anymore, and this ain't our daddy's Space Invaders we're playing here". That is exactly what sums up the experience of playing Space Invaders Extreme on the Nintendo DS.

Space Invaders Extreme presents a 21st century update to one of modern video gaming's pioneer titles and is released by Taito to mark the 30th anniversary of the classic title.

Don't mind the rather staid/retro cover box as the game really is colourful and the gameplay is much faster compared to that of its 30 year-old predecessor. Taito has put in place a rather nice techno soundtrack to complement the psychedelic interface/gameplay and I feel it's like someone converted Planet Puzzle League into Space Invaders!

There's quite a bit of strategy involved when playing Space Invaders Extreme. You'll need to shoot down enemies of the same type or colour in order to get temporary power-ups and also create chains to help boost your score.

Gameplay is divided into 3 types, whereby there's the ubiquitous arcade mode, the ranking mode and as well as a stage mode. The game also supports single cart and multi cart local multiplayer for up to 2 players. Tired of playing face to face and losing? Try the Nintendo WFC multiplayer option which is also available in Space Invaders Extreme.

I'm currently playing the Japanese version of the game, and language is really not a barrier here as in-game instructions and menu items are entirely in English. There's an incentive to purchase the Japanese version as the game double-ups as a collectible item (in my opinion), with the nice looking sticker on the shrink-wrap.

Anyways, Space Invaders is a pretty good time-killer and the variety of stages should keep you entertained for short periods. I wouldn't recommend playing too long because the animated backgrounds (yup, you read that right), even though they are a nice touch, can give you a headache after extended periods of playing.

Space Invaders Extreme is available at Play-Asia, for both the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP. The soundtrack will be on sale from March 19th for anyone who is interested. Click on the links for further details!

Electronic Art's EA Play: 15th to 16th March, Marina Square, Singapore.

2008-03-13T21:50:00.005+08:00

I got an invitation earlier today to cover Electronic Art's EA Play event which is going to be held this weekend (15th to 16th March) at the Marina Square in Singapore. I would love to go, but since it such short notice, I couldn't make it. However, I would make an exception for return flight tickets and paid-for accommodation. Just kidding (no, seriously...drop me a line).

Anyways, more about the event. EA Play promises to be big, and probably is the biggest "consumer gaming event" in this part of the world. Primarily the showcase of the latest and highly anticipated titles of EA's stable of multi-platform video games, gamers and the public will also get to experience hands-on demo sessions of Command and Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath as well as witness to a working demo of Will Wright's opus, Spore.

For those who are less interested in previews but are more in the business of kicking virtual rivals in the head (or shooting them for a matter a fact, or driving them off a virtual race track..you get the idea), EA Play 08 plays host (pun intended) a variety of tournaments featuring Crysis and Command and Conquer 3 for the PC, FIFA 08 and NBA Street Homecourt for the PS3, and not forgetting Skate and NFS: Prostreet for the Xbox 360.

Yup, EA Play 08 is the a perfect convergence between the general public, casual and hardcore gamers. Now, I wish someone would get me flight tickets and accomodation to Singapore this weekend. Failing which, bring EA Play to Malaysia!

Games To Go With Your Limited Ed. Game Boy Micro

2008-03-13T05:57:00.005+08:00

Since the Game Boy Micro Famicom Edition is on sale at Play-Asia with a massive discount (click here for details, it's a bona fide bargain!), you can make full use of the savings for games and accessories!

When it comes to games, nothing beats Play-Asia's selection of imported games. These titles are probably a rarity nowadays, but like the GBM Famicom Edition they are being sold at bargain bin prices! Check out the following games, which mostly cost less than USD 20 each:

Not forgetting accessories such as the wireless adapte r, communication cable, screen protector, earphones, and the multitudes of bags/cases for the Game Boy Micro. With the exception of the communication cable, these accessories are priced under USD 10.